Lamine Yamal was removed from his greatest throughout Sunday’s El Clásico in opposition to Actual Madrid, with FC Barcelona clearly feeling his dip in type in a sport that marked their second defeat of the 2025-26 La Liga season. After the match, Hansi Flick’s assistant coach Marcus Sorg addressed the 18-year-old’s struggles on the Santiago Bernabéu.
Regardless of dominating possession, Barcelona struggled to create clear possibilities in opposition to a Actual Madrid facet that was practically flawless in assault, posing a continuing risk within the ultimate third. In distinction, Yamal discovered himself shut down by the opposing protection, repeatedly pressured to move the ball backward below stress.
After the sport, Sorg spoke to the press about how Actual Madrid managed to neutralize Barcelona’s younger star: “Usually they performed two in opposition to one and tried to forestall him from coming into the realm. It’s regular. He’s younger, he has to enhance, and we are going to assist him.”
The German assistant additionally analyzed how Actual Madrid’s technique particularly focused Yamal’s largest strengths. “He wants rhythm, video games… It’s regular. He’s 18, and we now have to provide him time and assist him. It’s regular, opponents strive every thing in opposition to him and alter to defend effectively. We’ve to work extra and assist him deliver out the most effective model on the sector,” he state.
Lamine Yamal of FC Barcelona passes the ball while below stress from Alvaro Carreras of Actual Madrid.
Yamal had raised tensions earlier than the sport with a daring assertion that didn’t sit effectively with Actual Madrid gamers and followers. As soon as the match started, nonetheless, he was removed from his regular degree, managing solely two off-target pictures, finishing 4 dribbles, and shedding possession 22 instances.
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Sorg was additionally requested whether or not the hostile crowd may need affected the Barcelona prodigy: “It’s doable. Maybe slightly. As a result of he’s studying to take care of the group, the booing… It’s a course of. It’s true that he’s often very motivated, and right now wasn’t very simple for him.“
Why was Flick sidelined?
Barcelona have been already lacking key attackers similar to Robert Lewandowski and Raphinha, a significant setback in comparison with latest El Clásico matchups. Nevertheless, one of many largest surprises got here on the sideline: whereas Xabi Alonso stood on the touchline, Hansi Flick watched from the stands.
Flick served a one-match suspension after being despatched off throughout Barcelona’s earlier sport in opposition to Girona. With the membership’s attraction denied, assistant coach Marcus Sorg was left in cost from the bench on the Bernabéu.
